October 2012 Tube Products International
33
products & developments
Thickness gauge to tackle
corrosion monitoring
CorDEX Instruments has launched its
next-generation corrosion monitoring
device, which streamlines readings
gathered in the field and enables users
to monitor integrity levels at specific
points on an asset or pipeline.
The latest UT5000 intrinsically safe
thickness gauge was unveiled at the
Offshore Technology Conference in
Houston. The handheld device, which
can be used for non-destructive testing
to establish the extent of corrosion,
boasts several updates, including
intelligent measuring technology, which
can record multiple readings at specific
locations. A total of nine multi-point
readings can be saved against each
radio frequency identification (RFID)
tag on the asset or pipeline, which
greatly reduces time spent in the field
and increases the effectiveness and
efficiency of corrosion monitoring.
The device, which provides accurate
thickness readings to the nearest
thousandth of an inch, uses the latest
Echo-Echo technology, which has the
ability to read metal thickness levels,
even through a painted surface.
The UT5000, which is ATEX and IECEx
certified for Ex ib IIC T4 Gb and Ex
ibD IIIB T200ºC Db hazardous areas,
has also achieved its dust certification
and can be used in dust environments
that have been assessed as having an
explosion risk.
CorDEX Instruments chief executive
Tony Holliday said, “Integrity and
corrosion testing is becoming
increasingly important for the energy
industry as a significant number of
assets are approaching the end of their
designed life-spans. Failures on ageing
assets and pipelines are often attributed
to corrosion and defective welds, so
effective inspection and maintenance is
increasingly vital.
“The latest updates to the UT5000
have been made in direct response to
feedback received from industry and
makes the monitoring process more
efficient and saves valuable time in
the field. The device is pushing the
boundaries in this area and can
transform the way assets and pipelines
are inspected, maintained and repaired.”
To effectively manage and assess the
information gathered by the UT5000,
CorDEX offers CorDEX CONNECT™
– a software program that can be
downloaded to any PC. The software
uses RFID to tag every thickness
measurement with a specific location,
date and time, enabling trend analysis of
the asset or pipeline. Engineers can use
the data to easily identify trouble spots
and create predictive maintenance
programmes.
US sales manager Scott Lang was
appointed recently as the company sees
huge potential for its technologies in
North America. Based in North Carolina,
Mr Lang, who previously worked with
Lockheed-Martin as a systems engineer
on NASA’s Space Shuttle at Kennedy
Space Center, is focused on growing
business in the US and promoting
CorDEX Instruments’ full range of hand-
held devices.
The UK-headquartered company
has a network of distributers across
North America, South America, Africa,
Australasia, Europe, South East Asia
and the Middle East.
CorDEX Instruments Ltd
– UK
UT5000 intrinsically safe thickness gauge
Tony Holliday, CEO of CorDEX Instruments,
with the UT5000
Saudi manufacturer
expands capacity
Al Musairiey Metallic Industries Co has manufactured tubes and pipes
since 1992, with a quality control system implemented by ISO 9001:2008
to ensure the quality of products. The company uses modern machinery
and equipment, and has reached an annual production capacity of 160,000
metric tons. It is now in the process of expansion by adding two tube mills
and one slitting line, which will start production during 2012, leading to
annual production capacity increasing by up to 250,000 MT per year.
Al Musairiey Metallic Industries Co
– Saudi Arabia
